On June 15, 2024, students from public schools in Mtispiri village of Ozurgeti municipality (38 students) and Chkhakaura village of Chokhatauri municipality (13 students) participated in an excursion to the Batumi Botanical Garden. The event was organized as part of the educational project of Bakhvi HPP. During the visit, trainers Khatuna Iosava and Giorgi Berechikidze summarized the year's meetings on renewable energy and environmental protection held in the school space at the Batumi Botanical Park. The students, spanning grades 8 through 12, explored the diverse biodiversity preserved in the botanical garden, including collections of citrus fruits, fruit-berry trees, camellias, roses, and floral-herbaceous plants. They were also introduced to the herbarium fund and the centuries-old history of the park. Following the garden visit, the excursion continued with an entertainment and educational program specifically designed for the students and concluded with a picnic.
Megi Kapanadze, a 9th-grade student from Mtispiri Public School, shared her experience:
"The trainings organized by Bakhvi HPP at Mtispiri Public School allowed us to get more information about renewable energy, which impressed us a lot. I would like to thank our trainers for all this. During the year, we held various activities; even today was very fruitful. We visited the Batumi Botanical Garden and learned about the biodiversity here."
Saba Beridze, a 10th-grade student from Chkhakaura Public School, added:
"After the trainings held at the Chkhakaura Public School, we deepened our knowledge, learned to interact with the forest, and learned about the importance of the environment in general. We implemented many interesting projects, for example, the greening campaign, within the framework of which we planted saplings in front of our school. I have been going on excursions organized by trainers for the second year. Last year we saw Vani's Nakalakari, this year Batumi Botanical Garden. I hope this will continue. And we, from our side, will not reduce our efforts to learn and pass on our knowledge to our friends and relatives."
Davit Koberidze, Environmental, Social and Governance manager at Bakhvi HPP, emphasized: "Each activity that takes place within the framework of our educational project is important to us. The program is written in great detail with our trainers. We want the process to be interesting and fun for the young generation. In parallel with classroom activities, where we talk about environmental protection and renewable energies, we also give some professional orientation to students, we have field events and competitions. The excursion has an annual character and is somewhat a summary of the material covered during the year. Also, this year we had two environmental activities, a tree planting campaign on Earth Day and placing waste separation bins in schools. Children are very active both on the mtispiri and in Chkhakaura. This year we created an eco-club and elected eco ambassadors, whose duty is to educate the public in the direction of environmental protection and renewable energies. Here, I would like to thank the teachers of the school, because without their activity and determination, it would be difficult for us to implement this project. I wish the children happy holidays, and the entrants good luck in passing the entrance exams."
The training course is a project under the educational direction of the social program of Bakhvi HPP, successfully implemented since the spring of 2021. Monthly meetings are held throughout the year in Mtispiri and Chkhakaura public schools. The project is designed for high school students (grades 9-12) and aims to raise awareness among young people about environmental protection issues, renewable energy sources, and provide information about professional orientation.